Farmers stage protest against min’s statement
Belagavi: Farmers led by Chunappa Pujeri, under the banner of Karnataka Rajya Raita Sangha and Hasiru Sene, staged a protest on the premises of S Nijalingappa Sugar Institute, Belagavi, on Tuesday, condemning the remarks made by sugar minister Shivanand Patil regarding farmers. The police arrested the farmers who had gathered in front of the institute, venting their anger.
The farmers staged a protest condemning Patil’s statement that farmers wish for drought to get loan waivers, the protesters gathered at entrance of the S Nijalingappa Sugar Institute on Ganeshpur Road, and shouted slogans against the minister.
Following this, the police arrested several farmer leaders. Karnataka Rajya Raita Sangha and Hasiru Sene district president Chunappa Pujeri said that while farmers are being praised as the backbone and the breadwinners of the country, Patil wants to avoid drought relief and loan waivers. This is reprehensible, he said. “Minister Patil also spoke lightly about farmers’ suicides last year. Then the farmers taught him a lesson. The minister should immediately apologize to the farmers. Otherwise, we will not allow them to travel anywhere in the state. We will intensify our struggle in the coming days,” he said.
